City
Toronto's underwhelming Bikeway Network
Normally a map of Toronto bike lanes wouldn't strike me as newsworthy in the dead of winter, but when the folks over at Biking Toronto posted this TTC-inspired offering earlier today, it reminded me of the fact the when the Toronto Bikeway Network (PDF) was first dreamed up, 2011 was the year designated for completion of the project. That's right, back in 2001 it was expected (or at least hoped) that we would have 495 km worth of bike lanes, 260 km of shared roadways, and 249 km of off-road paths.
Despite the fact that it only highlights bike lanes (rather than all types of cycling infrastructure), the map above rather dramatically illustrates how far we have to go before such goals are met. Currently, the City of Toronto features 116.8 km of bike lanes, 145.2 of shared roadways, and 168.1 km of off-road paths. That means we're less than halfway to the 2001 projections, with bike lanes themselves being the chief weakness.
It'd be natural to lament the fact that our current mayor has made it clear that he doesn't view bike lanes as a priority when looking at how much remains unbuilt, but it'd probably be more appropriate to point out that it was mostly under David Miller's watch that the Bikeway Network managed to get so far behind. That's not to imply, of course, that it was all his fault, but rather to point out that even with a pro-cycling mayor, Toronto's infrastructure has crawled along at a snail's pace.
For the record, the above map is missing two recent additions to the Network in the Jarvis bike lanes and the West Toronto Railpath. But what it shows remarkably well -- whether intended or not -- is just how much work is left to be done.
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Goddamn bikes breaking all the rules you deserve nothing.
Slow news day over at Biking Toronto? How about a motorist ombudsmen that has the power to review movie crew road closures/condo construction closures? It's a labyrinth driving to work in this city, trying to dodge road closures. I pass at least 3 or 4 every day on my way to and from work. The most spectacular, of course, is the lane closure by First Canadian Place east on Adelaide - that has been closed for years.
I watched in dismay as a ridiculous double car streetcar blocked entire intersection of Church and Richmond last evening because a delivery truck was illegally parked on Richmond: the idiotic TTC driver just stood there helplessley as he blocked 2 major downtown arteries.
And the dolts at city hall speak about bicycle lanes on Richmond and Adelaide? Guffaw! There's never more than 2 clear lanes on either during rush hour as it is, thanks to all the delivery vehiciles (or buses waiting behind the Sheraton Center.)
I actually look forward to winter now - it keeps the stupid bikes off the roads. It is pathetic watching some middle-aged man or woman wobbling along an ice-strewn street in - 10 degree temperatures on their crappy old Canadian Tire bicycle - do they really feel that self-satisfied that they are saving the world Or just too cheap to shell out for the TTC?
The only good thing that can come of this is that the dying old white folk that clamor for more bicyle lanes will be gone in 10 or 15 years, and the 'new Canadians' will hold out for improved roadways because they come from backward cesspools where everyone has to walk or cycle and they prefer the 21st Century.
Flame away! I'm leaving for 3 weeks in Brazil where there is nary a bicycle lane in site - they wouldn't dare - the motorists would run them down! LOL
The more cyclists there are the safer the roads are for cyclists. Bike lanes help too because they show drivers where they belong and they show cyclists where they belong.
Drivers have been greedily gobbling up free roads all by themselves for decades. Now that they're being asked to share for cyclists and transit they think they're somehow "entitled" to the roadway all to themselves.
This map is okay. Next I would like to see the unofficial alternative routes cyclists use, like back lanes, park paths and commonly used sidewalks. That would suggest where new bike lanes could go.
I was hit by a car when riding on the Bike Path on Lakeshore. I've been 'dissed' by cyclists for stopping at red lights, and obeying the traffic laws, and I've been cut off by buses, cyclist and other cars while driving.
Bike lanes and paths need to be made safer, people need to follow the rules, no matter what they are driving/riding, and people need to respect their fellow man.
Come on, this is completely beating at a dead horse -- both motorists and cyclists must learn all the rules of the road and respect each other. And both motorists and cyclists have SO much to worry about when they're on the streets that mistakes are bound to happen. I don't understand why people don't get that and I'm talking to both motorists and cyclists.
Cyclists - if a car is parallel parking, you must stop and wait for the car to be completely in its space.
Motorists - If you're getting out of your car, you must look for oncoming cyclists.
Motorists - You must SIGNAL for a bike, just as you would signal for a CAR.
Cyclists - Stay in your lanes, you are endangering yourself by getting into the car lane, and if you do -- please be aware of shitty motorists..
NEED I GO ON?
It's not rocket science!!
I think the staggering number of cyclist and pedestrian deaths in this city tell a different story.
Motorists: As per the motor vehicle act, A cyclist on the road is a vehicle, and is thus entitled to the same width of a lane as a motor vehicle. It is our right to occupy an entire lane where we don't feel there is enough room for you to pass, sandwiching us against the curb. (ie passing both a streetcar on the right and a cyclist on the left)
Remember that your life is of no more worth than ours, and your destination is no more important than ours, unless of course you are a surgeon late for a hernia repair appt.
also, gadfly is diarrhea-ing out of his mouth again.
bike lanes are fine, but i have to agree a bit with Wes, the lack of bike lanes hasn't stopped me from cycling all over the city.
I was going east, he was going west, and didn't see me when he turned north into my path...but I won't take this opportunity to crap on drivers who don't pay attention to where they are going.
I now find it safer to use Queen Street from the Beaches into downtown
If Toronto is keeping up with its peers, then whatever it is doing for bikes can be judged acceptable.
If it is not doing what New York, Chicago, Boston, Vancouver, Montreal and SF are doing for bikes, then Toronto must build a better bike network. Because only an uneducated fool would claim that those are bad or unsuccessful urban places and in a Richard Florida world, competition between cities is very, very real.
So, let's review the official bike map in each city:
Toronto: http://bit.ly/e3prgh
New York: http://bit.ly/dYAXvd
Chicago: http://bit.ly/hco4W2
San Fran: http://bit.ly/gYiaMV
Boston: http://bit.ly/hwfDgp
Vancouver: http://bit.ly/eXLgGi
Montreal: http://bit.ly/fE54BQ
At first glance, it seems Toronto is not doing enough and, whatever the complaints, should find a way to build more bike lanes.
To simplify and truly make sense of these maps though, it would be terrific if someone graphically inclined could make a black-on-white bike-lane-or-better map, to scale, to really compare city networks. Something similar has been done for subways (http://fakeisthenewreal.org/subway/) -- what would the bike lane network version of that web page look like? That would be an analysis that could quiet the extremists on both sides and help people understand what needed to be done, or postponed, to maintain status as a first-tier city.
As for cyclists being 'too cheap' for the TTC, you're always saying the TTC sucks, remember? Would you rather they were driving and stuck in traffic with you?
As for newcomers from 'backward' places, do we really need more inexperienced drivers here?
Much of the time, driving downtown is a mug's game, and rightly so.
Bikes riders are a million times more respectful to pedestrians than drivers.
Even BUS drivers are way more respectful to bikers - I ride the Sherbourne bus often, and have never seen a bus driver cut off a biker - and vice-versa (and I see bikers on that street everyday).
Not to mention I never see a bus driver ever come close to hitting a pedestrian.
Fact of the matter is, most drivers come from the suburbs, where the mentality is that a bicycle is a tool for recreation. If they can't coexist with the bikers than they have no business driving here.
This site is pathetic.
I'm going to assume you were defending drivers? Well while you're at it, why don't you defend the tar sands, BP, and McDonalds while you're at it?
Wow, and talk about being a drama queen blam. In no way should you compare a childish banter between motorists and cyclists to legitimate world issues.
You're from downtown, right? Want me to make some outrageous claims about your type too??
And, most of them come in to the downtown area to work.
I'm not blaming suburbanites, I'm blaming uncareful drivers.
How very charming of them. You mean like this?
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/man-accelerates-car-middle-pro-bicycle-demonstration-injuring-20110228-130146-530.html